Intel 'sells out' of notebook chipsets

Intel has "sold out" of notebook chipsets, the company admitted last night.

While announcing a narrowing of the chip giant's Q3 FY2005 sales forecast, CFO Andy Bryant confirmed claims that the PC business is running short of Intel-supplied notebook chipsets.

“We are sold out,” Bryant said. He said the shortage will continue until "the first part of 2006".

That's the time-frame for the launch of 'Napa', the next generation of Intel's Centrino platform, based on the upcoming 65nm 'Yonah' processor, the 945M chipset and the ProWireless 3945ABG wireless adaptor.

Bryant didn't say as much, but it seems likely Intel is moderating chipset supply to increase demand for Napa. The CFO did say that Intel will produce "a few more wafers" in Q3, but he admitted it won't be sufficient to meet demand.

Intel produces chipsets at its 200mm-wafer fabs.

The 945 will feature Intel's GMA 950 graphics core, which it introduced earlier this year in its desktop-oriented 945G integrated chipsets. The 950 brings to Napa improved video playback, thanks to 4x pixel rate motion compensation, adaptive de-interlacing and support for video anti-piracy techniques, including COPP, HDCP and CGMS-A. It will support a 667MHz power-efficient frontside bus and Intel's Matrix Storage Technology. ®